Implement for straightening flanges.



R. LEONARD. IMPLEMENT FOR STRAIGHTENING FLANGES.

APPLICATION rum) AUG.14.1914.

1,118,871, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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IMPLEMENT FOR STRAIGHTENING FLANGES.

To all whom it may concern I Be it. knownthatl, RAYMOND LEONARD, of Pittsford, in the countyof Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Implements for Straightening Flanges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference numerals marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide a device that is applicable for straightening or flattening the flanges on metal cans prior to the sealing operation, so as to eliminate from the flange any kinks or indentations that may have been accidentally produced during manufacture or shipping.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford an implement of simple construction that can be manually operated in a ready manner, operating on the flange in such a manner as to leave it in as perfect condition for sealing as it possessed originally.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view, partially in section, showing the j aws closed in operative position; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate the same arts.

The invention is intended to be used in canning factories Where the cans are filled and sealed. If, for any reason, the flange of the can has become bent or indented during packing and shipping, and such imperfection is not removed. before the sealing operation takes place, the can will not be properly sealed, with the result that the contents are spoiled. It is to overcome this objection that I providewthe present device so that it can be quickly applied by hand to a can and readily serves to flatten out the flanges by applying ressure in a plane at right angles to the body portion of the can.

The device comprises a pair of pivotally associated jaws which have cooperating or meeting faces disposed at right angles to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed August 14, 1914. Serial No; 856,721.

each other for engagement with the flange and with the adjacent part of the body portion of the can respectively, and. in the present embodiment A and B designate the upper and lower jaws which are provided with handle portions A and B. The jaws are elongated, and curved in the direction of their length to conform to the curvature of the periphery of the can, it being understood that a differently curved jaw will be employed for different sized cans. The upper jaw A is provided with a reduced lower portion C which is constructed with a curved surface D to engage the inner face of. the body portion of the can, as shown in Fig. 2. The can is designated at E while F is the flange, the upper face of the latter being engaged by the shoulder or horizontally disposed face G on the upper jaw.

The lower jaw is reduced at its upper part, forming a shoulder or horizontal face H which engages the under side of the flange. The jaw B is curved to conform to the outer face of the body portion of the can. The jaws are normally held separated by means of a pair of cooperating leaf springs I and J secured to the handle portions, and operating to return the jaws to normal position when released.

The jaws may be pivoted together in various Ways but I prefer to accomplish this by means of a bearing or sleeve K which has reduced ends that engage openings in the jaws. The latter are held in place with respect to the hearing by means of washer plates L and set screws M. This affords an extremely efficient method for mounting the jaws as it prevents any twisting tendencies from acting on the jaws, while all of the strain is taken by the bearing K.

iVhile Ihave described a more or less specific embodiment of the construction, the invention is not limited to the precise ar-. rangement set forth, and I intend to cover by this application any modifications or departures that may accomplish the same purpose and come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An implement for straightening flanges 011 cans or the like, comprising a pair of jaws which are curved to conform to the periphery of a can, said jaws being provided with flat cooperating faces which engage the opposite surfaces of a flange on the can.

2. An implement for straightening flanges on cans or the like, comprising a pair of aWs Which are curved to conform to the periphery of a can, ,one of the jaws having a curved face for engagement With the interior of the can, said jaws being provided with fiat cooperating faces which engage the 0pposite surfaces of a flange on the can.

3. An implement for straightening flanges on cans and the like, comprising a pair of j aws which are elongated, and curved to con form to the periphery of a can; said jaws having horizontal cooperating faces to en-.

gage a flange on a can and vertical cooperating faces to engage the body of the can immediately adjacent the flange.

4. An implement for straightening flanges on cans or the like, comprising a pair of jaws, said aws being provided With fiat faces for engaging the opposite surfaces or" a flange on the can, and curved faces for engaging the interior and exterior of the can.

An implement for straightening flange on cans or the like, comprising a pair of awe havingflat cooperating faces adapted to engage theopposite surfaces of a flange on the can, and means carried by said jaws and cooperating with the body of the can for bringing said flat faces into proper relation with the flange.

RAYMOND LEONARD. WVitnesses F. A. LEONARD,

VVALTER B. PAYNE.

Copies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Bettina,

Wanhington, D. C. I 

